Project dates: September 2015 - September 2020
While existing teen pregnancy prevention efforts have contributed to significant declines in the overall U.S. teen pregnancy rate, teen pregnancy prevention programs specifically targeting adolescent males are limited and sorely needed. This study attempted to reduce adolescent male sexual risk behavior through targeting Black and Latino adolescent males aged 15-19 and their fathers residing in the South Bronx. Adolescents in this area face high concentrations of risk, and teen pregnancy, HIV, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) compared to the national average. The study developed, evaluated, and packaged for dissemination a family-based intervention, Fathers Raising Responsible Men (FRRM), focused on fostering father-son discussion about safe sexual practices. In addition, FRRM supported adolescent males’ use of condoms correctly and consistently, and encouraged visits to a sexual and reproductive health clinic, where they received STI screening and treatment. The overall goal of the project was to develop a science-proven tool that can be used nationally to help reduce teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases in disadvantaged communities nationally.
Abstract on NIH RePORTERFather-son communication about consistent and correct condom use
Pediatrics, 143 (1), e20181609. doi: 10.1542/peds.2018-1609.
Guilamo-Ramos V, Bowman AS, Santa Maria D, Kabemba F, Geronimo Y (2018).
Addressing a critical gap in U.S. national teen pregnancy prevention programs: The acceptability and feasibility of father-based sexual and reproductive health interventions for Latino adolescent males
Journal of Adolescent Health, 62 (3S), S81-S86. doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2017.08.015.